What? Why? Wow ! ! ! (with When? Who? and Where?)

Using visual thinking strategies to explore a work of art.

Instructions: Answer the following sets of questions while looking at your work of art.

What?

What is going on in the painting?

What do you see that makes you think that?

What else can you find?

What is the season of the year?

What do you see that makes you think that?

What is the time of day?

What do you see that makes you think that?

What is the mood of the scene?

What do you see that makes you think that?

What is the title of the painting?

How do you know the title of the painting?

What title would you give the painting?

What would you change about the painting?

Why would you make that change?

 

Where?

Where do you think the scene in the painting takes place?

What do you see that makes you think that?

What else can you say about where the painting takes place?

 

When?

When do you think the artist painted the painting?

What do you see that makes you think that?

What else can you say about when the painting was made?

 

Why?

Why do you think the artist painted the painting?

What do you see that makes you think that?

What else can you say about why you think the artist painted the painting?

 

Who?

Who was the artist who painted the painting?

How do you know the name of the painter?

What else do you know about this artist?

Where could you look to learn more about this artist?

 

Wow!

What in the painting is worthy of a Wow!?

What do you think is the most special part of the painting?

What do you see that makes you think that?

 

For more information about Visual Thinking Strategies (VTS) developed by Philip Yenawine (Former Director of Education at the Museum of Modern Art in New York) and Abigail Housen (a developmental psychologist and researcher in aesthetics), contact Visual Understanding in Education at www.vue.org